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Introduction to Linux - A Hands on Guide

This guide was created as an overview of the Linux Operating System, geared toward new users as an exploration tour and getting started guide, with exercises at the end of each chapter.
For more advanced trainees it can be a desktop reference, and a collection of the base knowledge needed to proceed with system and network administration. This book contains many real life examples derived from the author's experience as a Linux system and network administrator, trainer and consultant. They hope these examples will help you to get a better understanding of the Linux system and that you feel encouraged to try out things on your own.

im soon to revamp the hard drive on my pc. I was wondering if there was a way to partion the hard drive. then after i have the partition i want it to be hidden from the view of windows. Then from there i want to install linux on the partitioned part of the hard drive. Once i have that all done and finished i want to be able to load it via bios. I want to be able to choose the drive in the bios settings and have it load. The reason for all my confusion and hard efforts to try and explain what i want is because my father also uses the computer i have. he also is sorta a windows freak. I hate windows even though its the most commonly used OS. I want it hidden so he wont know its there so he thinks windows is only installed. I doubt this is possable but it couldent hurt to see if it was.

Do you have any unpartitioned space? If not you will have to resize a partition to free up some space (or insert another hard disk). Partition Magic can do this, but its not free software. I am not aware of any free tools on Windows that can do this. (anyone?)

I don't think you can make Linux completely invisible, because when Windows first boots, you will have to choose whether you want to load Linux or Windows, and that menu will always be there. Consider asking your father permission to do this, especially because playing with partitions is risky, in that if you make a small mistake you can destroy all the data, and you should give your father a chance to back up his data!

If you install on a seperate hard disk, the risk of damaging data is reduced, because you don't have to resize your existing partitions.

To pretty much completely hide the system you should probably stick the linux installation on a seperate physical drive and don't install a bootloader on the mkbr - just use a bootfloppy when you want to boot into linux.

i didnt totaly understand ur question but anyway i dont know what distro ur going to install and and how the hell u want to load linux via bios if u have only 1 hard disk? u also didnt mention what distro ur going to install now if u have 2 hard disks then it wont be a problem to load linux via bios no need to even install boot loader 2nd thing windows dont see the linux partions unless u use some software for it but by default it wont see it not ext2/3 or any other hope that answers ur question.

Use Knoppix 3,live cd its a great program,Run it from bios by disabling the floppy and harddrive settings, just remember the old settings, because after you have to change it back.Boot it from the cd, then after it has loged on press ctrl-alt-F1, then tipe "knx-hdinstall" then select your mother bourd. After that a screen will pop up with you diverent partitions, It will have probably "fat" partitions Then select the one that you want to install linux in then select "delete" That partition will become a clean partition then say "new" and select (primery, size and just fill in the nessesery things. Then select "write"it will then print it on your hard drive. Just leave windows partition alone you dont want to be playing with that.
After all that say Quit. Say no for partition swap and just select your right partition again remember make shure your not selecting windows partition.
Manner of install, they give you 4 option select the strange one I think the name is raiven or something dont wory if you select a diverent one dose not make a big divs.
Say yes for everything else they ask you. there will be a couple of things including "lilo" just say yes.
After instal createyour password. then when it is finished , reset and restore you bios setting, romove you cd then resset again you will now see that there is a screen that pops up in bios were you can select windows or linux. And you will not see the linux partition in windowsbut you can see windows partition in linux if you have any problams just contact me at Chrisevad1@hotmail.com
That is it it is not to complicated

hmmm ....when u first boot up after doin that will it just automaticly boot into windows if u dont go into the bios? i also have this wierd partition that has bits of what seems to be windows files like :
_webcache_
CPQDRV
CPQS
DATA
CONFIG
(2 times one with a gear in the window and the other has msdos logo)
it also has a CTO txt file with a bunch of stuff that came with compaq.
the last file on the partiton is a E21.sku file whatever that is...
.. is it safe to delete it from the computer?

My suggestion is to use Partition Magic and partition your harddrive. I think its worth the extra money to have your partition work and not lose data like I've heard from other people's experience.
As far as booting, you can do like someone suggested above... use a boot disk which will boot to the Linux partition automatically. The trick to doing this is that you have to use the disk to boot Linux but then keep the original Windows master boot record so that your dad will not get the option of which one to boot to.